Hi, folks,
 
Need your help again.  I'm having trouble getting clean analog audio into Sonar.  It sounds distorted and clipped.
 
Here's my gear chain:
 
Mic (AKG Perception 200) (Have also tried a Shure SM58 so don't think it's the mic)
ART Studio V3 mic preamp
E-mu 1212m PCI PC card
 
Software:
E-mu DSP Patchmix
Sonar X3 Producer
 
Levels:
None of the signal levels I can observe over "go red".  The analog meter on the mic preamp stays under 0db and none of the software meters exceed 0db.

 
I've successfully recorded audio with this setup in the past and can't figure out where the problem is.
 
I look forward to hearing your suggestions for troubleshooting this.
 
 
edit: added [Solved] to the subject - sc

Do you have 'Remove DC Offset During Recording' enabled in Preferences > Audio > Playback and Recording?
 
I think there's still a problem with this function when recording mono inputs that causes a 'buzzing' distortion in the recording.

Is the distortion present in something monitored directly via the interface card?

Could be a problem with that or the pre-amp. A valve or capacitor that's no longer doing exactly what it should can do all kinds of things. Valves nearing the end of their life can distort at levels far below normal as well. The lifespan of a valve, especially in a pre-amp, is usually years but, like tungsten filament light bulbs, some die early.

I'd test to see if the distortion is present without the valve pre-amp as a next step.

Definitely add a level meter to your patchmix input channel and look at the levels there.

Doesn't the ART have a tube.  Make sure it is warmed up long enough.

Hey, folks,
 
Thanks for the quick replies.
 
'Remove DC Offset During Recording' enabled in Preferences > Audio > Playback and Recording  NOT checked.
Pre-amp warmed up.
 
I decided to see what kind of behavior I got from my hardware recording with Audacity.  I downloaded it, set it up and, lo and behold, I'm getting the same behavior after generating a test tone in Patchmix.
 
Does that sound like a Patchmix issue or a hardware issue with the audio interface (I don't know where the test tone comes from)?  This test didn't involved my mics or the pre-amp.
 
 

Thought I would come back and close this out.  Looks like tlw had it figured out.  I replaced my old E-mu PCI card with a Focusrite external USB interface and audio input is clean and strong.
 
Thanks for the ideas and being so responsive.  Someone can mark this one solved.
 
(After I use it a little while, I'll post a little review of the Focusrite unit).

To mark a thread Solved, edit the original post and modify the subject line.
I will do this one for you.

Good, glad you got it sorted.